Anwar: Yes, we instigate the people

The opposition leader says that Pakatan Rakyat instigates the people to defend their rights and stand up against ‘robbers’.

…….

Among others, he said the mainstream media had painted him and other opposition leaders as instigators and warned the public against heeding their calls.

“Yes, we instigate the people. We instigate them to stand up for their rights, we instigate them to rise up against ‘robbers’ and if this is wrong, then we are prepared to face the consequences,” he bellowed.

Criticising the Star newspaper for omitting certain portions of US President Barack Obama’s message to Najib with regard to the general election, Anwar, however, stressed that the fate of this nation rests on the shoulders of Malaysians, and not the Americans or the Japanese.

He also asked those present if the opposition should stop pursuing the issue of electoral fraud.

“I am asking you a serious question… Do you want us to end this or continue [with our struggle]?” he asked, to which the crowd responded with a thunderous “continue”.

“Fine… We shall continue then,” retorted Anwar. “At the very minimum, we want re-election for the 30 seats which we dispute… but we reject the 13th general election result,” he added.

Calling for the EC top brass’ resignation, the Pakatan Rakyat supremo said: “Clean elections, my foot! We want the EC to resign or we would give you [EC] an ultimatum… listen, listen, listen.”

After eight successful Blackout 505 series of rallies nationwide, its ninth and final itineration – dubbed the ‘People’s Gathering’ – will be held at 5pm in Petaling Jaya today.

The rally, in which NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) is among its main organisers, is to protest against alleged electoral fraud and misconduct in the recent general election.
…….

Prior rallies have regularly drawn five-figure crowd numbers, of which the largest was held at the Kelana Jaya stadium several kilometres away from today’s rally venue. Some 120,000 had attended that rally on May 8 – whether within the overcrowded stadium or beyond.

For today’s rally, the venue Dataran Petaling Jaya has a maximum standing capacity of about 80,000.

If the previous rallies are of any indication, the crowd tonight is likely to spill onto the surrounding streets as well.

LIVE REPORTS

11.45pm – After seven hours, the Suara Rakyat 505 rally came to a close with everyone singing Negaraku.

Prior to that, emcee Badrul Hisham Shaharin says he needs 500,000 volunteers for an event he called “March to EC”, hinting that there are far bigger rallies being planned.

11.20pm – In a show of humility, Anwar Ibrahim tells the crowd that he is sorry that Pakatan Rakyat was not able to form the federal government.

“So some of our plans can’t be implemented because of that,” he said.

Regardless, Anwar (left) says that Pakatan will never give up and that it was BN who should be accepting defeat.

He says that the White House had congratulated Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak with a condition: That the polls must be free and fair.

“That’s why the EC must resign now! Now! Now!” he said.

He said that Monday is the last day for the public to lodge police reports on electoral fraud and urge them to do so, particularly over the fact that “indelible ink” was removable.

He added that there will be a few more Black 505 rallies left.

“Do we go on or stop here?” he asks, to which the crowd replied “Go on!”.

He then promises that any mobilisation of the people will be done peacefully.

11.05pm – Emcee Badrul Hisham Shaharin has called for the Dataran PJ floodlamps to be switched off and for rally participants to whip out their phones and lighters to light up the venue.

The idea is to celebrate the release of Adam Adli, a student activist accused by the state of sedition. He is Penang now to visit his ailing mother.

“We will shine a path for democracy,” he said, while estimating that the crowd size has now swelled to 70,000.

The crowd oblige and the wave their electronic devices. Looks like a swarm of fireflies.